Safeguarding and welfare commitment

Forever Futures Ltd is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable individuals across Nottinghamshire. Combining special educational needs tutoring with equine therapy, we maintain robust statutory policies, comprehensive staff checks, and meticulous on-site protocols to provide a nurturing, secure, and inspiring environment for every learner.

Safeguarding policies and operational procedures

At Forever Futures Ltd, our policies and operational procedures are established to maintain an exceptionally safe and supportive setting for every young person. From comprehensive safer recruitment protocols to explicit whistleblowing and emergency response measures, our documented frameworks ensure continuous oversight across all our special educational needs tutoring and equine-assisted activities.

We review every safeguarding procedure annually and immediately following any operational updates. Full written copies of our child protection policies, code of conduct, and risk management documentation are available upon request for parents and schools

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

1. Policy Statement Forever Futures Ltd acknowledges its duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children, young people, and vulnerable adults who access our equine therapy and tutoring services. We are committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance, and best practice.

2. Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)

  • Lead DSL: Chelsey Barnes

  • Co-DSL: Tina Davies

  • All staff, volunteers, and visitors must report any safeguarding concerns immediately to Chelsey Barnes or Tina Davies. If neither is available, immediate external statutory agency referral must be considered.

3. Principles

  • The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount.

  • All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

  • All staff and tutors undergo enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

Health and Safety Policy (Equine Activities & Tutoring)

1. General Statement of Intent Forever Futures Ltd recognizes that equine therapy involves inherent risks due to the size and unpredictable nature of horses. We are committed to minimizing these risks through robust control measures while maintaining a safe, structured educational and therapeutic environment.

2. Responsibilities

  • Management (Chelsey Barnes & Tina Davies): Overall responsibility for safety compliance, risk assessments, and maintenance of facilities and equipment.

  • Staff and Tutors: Responsibility for day-to-day adherence to safety protocols during sessions.

  • Participants/Clients: Obligation to follow instructions given by staff and handlers at all times.

3. Equine-Specific Protocols

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Approved riding hats (PAS 015, VG1, or ASTM F1163 standards) and appropriate footwear (sturdy boots with a small heel) must be worn by anyone handling or riding horses.

  • Risk Assessments: Dynamic risk assessments must be conducted before every session, accounting for weather conditions, animal temperament, and participant capabilities.

  • Emergency Procedures: Clear protocols are established for loose horses, client injury, or sudden animal distress, including immediate access to first aid kits and emergency contact numbers.

Data Protection and Privacy Policy (UK GDPR)

1. Who We Are Forever Futures Ltd ("we", "our", "us") operates www.foreverfuturesltd.co.uk. We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal data collected from clients, students, and website visitors.

2. Data Collected

  • Personal identification details (names, dates of birth, addresses).

  • Special category data (health conditions, educational needs, safeguarding notes) strictly necessary for safe equine therapy and personalized tutoring.

  • Website usage data via cookies.

3. Lawful Basis and Usage Data is processed under the lawful bases of explicit consent, vital interests (for medical/safety emergencies), and legal obligations. Information is stored securely on encrypted platforms and retained only as long as required by law or insurance mandates.

4. Individual Rights Under UK GDPR, clients have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of their personal data. Inquiries can be directed to the leadership team via the website contact portal.

Code of Conduct for Staff and Tutors

  • Professional Boundaries: Maintain clear, professional boundaries with all clients and students. Dual relationships that compromise objectivity must be avoided.

  • Equine Welfare: Ensure horses are treated with utmost care, respect, and humane handling techniques at all times. Animal welfare takes priority over session objectives.

  • Confidentiality: Respect the strict confidentiality of personal, medical, and educational records. Information should only be shared on a strict need-to-know basis relating to safeguarding or medical emergencies.

  • Inclusion and Equality: Deliver services fairly, treating all individuals with dignity regardless of background, disability, or learning needs

  • 1. Introduction and Agreement

    1.1. These Terms and Conditions govern the booking, delivery, and cancellation of equine therapy and educational tutoring sessions provided by Forever Futures Ltd ("we", "us", "our").

    1.2. By booking a session via our website, email, or telephone, you ("Client", "Parent/Guardian", or "Participant") agree to be bound by these terms.

    2. Bookings and Payments

    2.1. All sessions must be booked in advance. Bookings are subject to availability and are only confirmed upon receipt of full payment or an approved organizational purchase order/invoice arrangement.

    2.2. Prices are listed on www.foreverfuturesltd.co.uk and are subject to change, though confirmed bookings will not be affected by subsequent price adjustments.

    3. Cancellation and Refund Policy

    3.1. Client Cancellations (Short Notice): If a session is cancelled by the client within 24 hours of the scheduled start time, no refund will be issued. This is due to the short notice, which prevents us from reallocating staff, facilities, or equine resources.

    3.2. Cancellations with Notice: Cancellations made more than 24 hours in advance will be eligible for a full refund or a rescheduled session at no extra charge.

    3.3. Weather and Equine Welfare Cancellations: Equine therapy and outdoor activities are weather-dependent and subject to animal welfare considerations. If Forever Futures Ltd must cancel a session due to severe weather, adverse conditions, or unexpected equine health issues, you will be offered an alternative date or a full refund.

    3.4. Late Arrivals: Sessions will finish at the scheduled end time regardless of the participant's arrival time, to maintain scheduling for subsequent clients.

    4. Health, Safety, and Participant Requirements

    4.1. Informed Consent: Clients/Guardians must accurately disclose all relevant medical, physical, behavioral, and educational support needs prior to the first session to ensure the safety of participants, staff, and animals.

    4.2. Clothing and PPE: Participants engaging in equine-related activities must wear appropriate footwear (sturdy boots with a small heel) and properly fitted safety helmets provided or approved by Forever Futures Ltd. Refusal to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will result in immediate session termination without refund.

    4.3. Behavior and Safety: We operate a zero-tolerance policy towards behavior that endangers staff, other participants, or the animals. Forever Futures Ltd reserves the right to terminate a session immediately if a participant poses a safety risk, with no refund issued.

    5. Safeguarding and Data Protection

    5.1. Our services operate under strict safeguarding guidelines overseen by our Designated Safeguarding Leads, Chelsey Barnes and Tina Davies. Any welfare disclosures or concerns will be handled in accordance with statutory safeguarding laws.

    5.2. Personal data, medical histories, and session notes are collected, processed, and stored securely in compliance with the UK GDPR and our website Privacy Policy.

    6. Limitation of Liability

    6.1. Equine therapy involves working with large animals and carries inherent risk. While Forever Futures Ltd maintains comprehensive risk assessments and insurance, participants and guardians must acknowledge these risks and follow all staff instructions meticulously.

    6.2. Forever Futures Ltd shall not be held liable for any loss, damage, or injury sustained, except where caused by proven negligence on the part of the company or its employees.

Comprehensive risk assessments

At Forever Futures Ltd, safety underpins every learning and equine activity. We carry out dynamic, individualised risk assessments for every child, session, and horse interaction. From stable yard safety and riding equipment checks to emotional wellbeing monitoring during SEN tutoring, our structured risk management protocols ensure a thoroughly protected, reassuring environment across our Nottinghamshire centre.

  • Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA 1974): The primary legal framework placing a general duty on employers to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of employees and non-employees (clients, students, and visitors).

  • Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: Requires employers to make suitable and sufficient assessments of risks to employees and anyone else affected by work activities, and to implement necessary preventative measures.

  • The Occupiers’ Liability Acts 1957 and 1984: Imposes a duty of care to ensure visitors (and in some circumstances, trespassers) are reasonably safe while using the premises.

  • Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER): Ensures all equipment used (including educational tools, mounting blocks, and stable equipment) is safe, suitable, and properly maintained.

Risk Assessment Matrix: Forever Futures Ltd

Activity / HazardWho Might Be HarmedPotential Risk / InjuryExisting Control MeasuresAdditional Actions Required

Equine Interaction & Therapy

 

Unpredictable animal behavior (kicking, biting, startling)

Clients, Students, Staff, VisitorsCrushing, kicks, bites, fractures, psychological distress

• Strict behavior screening for therapy horses.

 

• Clear safety rules briefed prior to contact (no running, quiet voices).

 

• Mandatory 2-meter clearance rule around rear legs.

 

• Handlers present at all times.

• Implement individual behavioral tracking logs for each horse.

 

• Clearly mark designated "pause zones" or retreat areas in paddocks/arenas.

Equine Equipment & Tack

 

Worn or faulty reins, saddles, stirrups, or lead ropes

Clients, HandlersFalls, rope burns, sudden loss of control during handling

• Pre-session visual inspections of all tack and leads.

 

• Regular deep-cleaning and maintenance schedules.

• Document all equipment checks in a written logbook retained on-site.

Stable & Yard Environment

 

Uneven ground, trailing hoses, mud, slip/trip hazards

All persons on siteSlips, trips, twisted ankles, impact injuries

• Regular housekeeping to keep walkways clear of debris, muck, and equipment.

 

• Good lighting across high-traffic yard areas.

• Clear ice/grit paths proactively during freezing weather conditions.

Tutoring & Educational Sessions

 

Indoor/Outdoor learning environments, desk or seating posture

Students, TutorsSlips, repetitive strain, distress from learning pressures

• Well-maintained furniture suited to student age/needs.

 

• Frequent rest breaks integrated into tutoring blocks.

• Review room ventilation, ambient noise levels, and lighting routinely.

Allergies & Zoonotic Risks

 

Dander, dust, hay fever triggers, or animal-borne bacteria

Asthmatic or allergy-prone clients/staffBreathing difficulties, severe allergic reactions, skin rashes

• Mandatory pre-registration medical intake forms tracking known allergies.

 

• Hand-washing stations available immediately after animal contact.

• Keep antihistamines stocked in the designated first-aid kit.

Weather & Environmental Exposure

 

Extreme heat, heavy rain, high winds, lightning

All participantsDehydration, hypothermia, heatstroke, or slips from wet footing

• Monitoring local forecasts prior to session execution.

 

• Flexibility to shift from outdoor mounted work to sheltered/indoor education.

• Enforce strict dress codes (sturdy footwear, weather-appropriate layers).

Operational Review & Sign-Off

  • Assessment Review Frequency: Annually, or immediately following any near-miss, behavioral incident, or operational change.

  • Communication: All staff, volunteers, and regular visitors must review these controls and sign an acknowledgment form prior to commencing activities.

Safeguarding policies, leads, and equine safety

We work in full alignment with UK statutory guidance and multi-agency frameworks to ensure that our educational tutoring and equine therapy sessions operate with the highest standards of safety, protection, and care.

What statutory safeguarding legislation do you adhere to?
Our policies align fully with UK legislation and statutory guidance, including the Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004. We comply with Section 11 of the Children Act 2004, fulfilling our clear duty to safeguard and promote children's welfare, prioritise early intervention, and liaise collaboratively with local authorities and partners.

How do you comply with working together to safeguard children?
We comply rigorously with the statutory guidance 'Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)', establishing cohesive inter-agency collaboration, prompt information sharing, and clear procedures to protect the welfare of every child participating in our sessions.

Which bodies, boards, and standards are you registered with?
We adhere to guidance set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) to meet regional requirements in Nottinghamshire (postcode area NG21 9ST). Furthermore, we ensure Ofsted compliance across welfare provisions and follow recognised NSPCC guidelines to sustain a secure learning environment.

How do you keep children with SEN safe around therapy horses?
Working around horses requires specialized care. We foster a calm, controlled setting led exclusively by trained professionals experienced in equine therapy and SEN. Children are introduced gradually at their own pace, fitted with protective safety helmets, and closely supervised at all times.

Who are your designated safeguarding contacts on site?
Chelsey Barnes serves as our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and Tina Davies is an active safeguarding team member. Both are present on-site to oversee child protection protocols and ensure robust safety measures across all tutoring and stable facilities.

What should parents or carers do if they have a concern?
We welcome open communication. If a parent, carer, or child has any safeguarding or wellbeing question, Chelsey Barnes and Tina Davies address every matter promptly, confidentially, and with the utmost professional rigour following our formal reporting procedures.

What background checks and training does the team undergo?

Our staff hold comprehensive enhanced DBS checks alongside specialized certifications in equine handling, first aid, and special educational needs support, guaranteeing thorough protection across both educational and therapeutic environments. Regular safeguarding training 

Can parents review safeguarding documentation and policies?
Yes, full copies of our safeguarding policy, child protection guidelines, and risk assessments are openly available to parents, carers, and local authority partners upon request at our centre.

Partnering for your child's wellbeing

Discover how our bespoke SEN tutoring and therapeutic equine programmes support emotional growth and confidence within a safe, professional setting. Get in touch with our team today to discuss your child's needs.